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Doctor Who - The Sea Devils (Episode 62) | 
 enlarge | Actor: Jon Pertwee
Studio: BBC Warner
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.98
Buy New: $17.67
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Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 63848
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 147 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 1000037740
UPC: 883929014170
EAN: 0883929014170
ASIN: B00147F8YQ
Release Date: June 3, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Description
From a top-security prison on a remote island, the Master is aiding the Sea Devils' plot to eliminate the human race.DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Featurette
Music Only Track
Photo gallery
Production Notes
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| Customer Reviews:
 "It seems to be a rather interesting extraterrestrial lifeform..." July 28, 2008
Andrew McCaffrey (Satellite of Love, Maryland)
Season 9's THE SEA DEVILS is a sequel to season 7's DOCTOR WHO AND THE SILURIANS and while the original is usually the more praised serial in Doctor Who fan circles, I've always preferred the follow-up. I don't have anything against THE SIULRIANS (I quite like much of it), but I find a little more to enjoy with THE SEA DEVILS.
Like the original, Malcolm Hulke's script is about an ancient species (cousins to the Silurians) who once ruled the Earth. After a hibernation period which lasted millions of years, they are slowly awakening and reclaiming ownership to a planet they believe to be their own. Mankind is not keen on giving up on a world they've grown attached to, so it's up to the Doctor to prevent an all-out war.
There are several key differences between THE SILURIANS and THE SEA DEVILS. The first time, the Earth Reptiles were alone in their planning. This time they're being covertly aided by the Master who wishes to take his revenge upon the humans who have imprisoned him on Earth.
Despite this help, the Sea Devils are in a fundamentally weaker position than the Silurians had been. While their cousins had a plague virus that could potentially wipe out all humans and a device which could destroy the Van Allen Belt, the Sea Devils are shown simply as survivors, merely capable of blowing up passing freight ships. I find this lowering of the stakes actually benefits the drama. I think it's more exciting to see the villains in a dire situation which makes them desperate. It's also a nice twist in that much of the tension in the later episodes involves the Doctor trying to save the creatures which are nominally the story's bad guys.
THE SEA DEVILS is more of a conventional Doctor Who monster story than THE SILURIANS was. Humans don't have the pure psychological dread of these creatures they way that they had in THE SILURIANS. There are no soldiers or scientists drawing primitive cave pictures after being driven mad with primeval terror. I wish the producers had retained this aspect as I thought that was one of features of the first production that was extremely well done.
However, removing the more psychological horrors did give the serial a more action/adventure flavor, which worked its benefit. The story is fairly fast moving, despite its six episode length. The Sea Devils appear early, unlike many Doctor Who adventures where the creature would be hidden in the shadows for many of the opening episodes. Trenchard's deception is uncovered quickly and the Master is shown in charge
almost from the start. That said, this was the first time that I saw this serial in episode format, and I thought some of the cliffhangers were just silly.
The DVD commentary features an all behind-the-scenes crew. We have director Michael Briant, producer Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks. They are moderated by Andrew Cartmel although I'm not convinced that this group really needed a moderator, especially given that Letts usually informally takes that role. Lacking someone from in front of the camera, the commentary has fewer on-set anecdotes and focuses mainly on information from the production side.
THE SEA DEVILS is one of the highlights of the Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who. It's got great pacing, a good cast and an exciting story. This serial was made with help from the Royal Navy and the collaboration gives the sea-faring portions a very realistic flavor. Any adventure with Roger Delgado's Master is usually worth a viewing and in this story the chemistry between him and Jon Pertwee's Doctor is at its best.
 "History books? Captain Hart, Horatio Nelson was a personal friend of mine." June 11, 2008
Crazy Fox (Chicago, IL USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
As the middle storyline of the middle season in Jon Pertwee's tenure as the Doctor, "The Sea Devils" somehow manages to encapsulate everything that's great about that era in microcosm. And with extensive location shooting and the friendly cooperation and involvement of the British Royal Navy, it does so with a much higher level of verisimilitude and sense of scale than usual, making for an especially memorable adventure. One that's nonetheless entertaining and thoughtful in exactly the ways "Doctor Who" should be.
From one point of view, "The Sea Devils" is a sequel to the classic "Doctor Who and the Silurians" and from another it's simply a heightened reworking of the same story just different enough to stand on its own. The same basic premise is revisited: reptilians (semi-aquatic in this case) who evolved on Earth long before humankind and went into hibernation to avert a disaster have finally awakened thanks to humanity's environmentally intrusive meddling and are seriously intent on retaking their planet for themselves. Once again the Doctor, the voice of reason on the moral high ground, tries to broker some sort of mutually beneficial compromise but to no avail. Mutual distrust and violence prevail. Of course this time we have to add into the equation the Doctor's nemesis (and former friend) the Master, villainously sowing seeds of discord wherever he goes, egging the tragedy along for his own nefarious purposes.
That said, the moral complexity characteristic of "Silurians" is more muted in this tale, hinted at and alluded to but not being allowed to interfere with the action and adventure that had come gradually to be emphasized in the show. The plot treats pragmatic military solutions less harshly, allowing them to come across as more inevitable and necessary here--even to the Doctor himself eventually. "The Sea Devils" is in fact a perfect showcase for Pertwee as the dynamic Doctor, who gets to sword fight with the Master, use his Venusian martial arts on the Sea Devils, rappel down cliffs, and drive any number of fancy water vehicles through the waves. The Master likewise is played brilliantly and inimitably by Roger Delgado, sinister and suave in a manner unique to him. This is one of the few DVD releases to feature him, and it is precious on that score alone. Katy Manning is in perfect form as Jo Grant here too--whoever claims that the Doctor's companions at this time were portrayed as passive and weak sex objects merely awaiting rescue obviously wasn't paying attention here when Jo takes out two armed guards in a matter of seconds with her bare knuckles and rescues the Doctor himself.
Nicely prototypical portrayals of the classic core characters of the series at this time, in short, along with the Doctor's wonderfully snarkish disregard for authority and the odd tension of a loose cannon like him working closely with the military establishment and the refreshingly dry humor so emblematic of "Doctor Who"--it's all here in its quintessential form in a speculative science fiction adventure that's not afraid to be at once both meaningful and thoroughly enjoyable.
P.S. As it so happens, this was neither the first nor the last time the Doctor got caught between two contending sets of Earthlings, reptile and mammal, and "The Sea Devils" can be purchased together with those other two adventures conveniently in one set: Doctor Who - Beneath The Surface (Doctor Who And The Silurians / The Sea Devils / Warriors Of The Deep).
Long but Enjoyable May 13, 2008
D. Cassell (PA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
There is no doubt Jon Pertwee's episodes are sometimes long & drawn out. The Sea Devils is no different, with the exception that I didn't actually fall asleep for once, & was able to watch it in on sitting. The reason was simple, it was enjoyable & the the enemies were interesting. The Doctor finds himself up against two former foes, the Master & the Silurians.
It starts off with the Doctor & Jo Grant visiting the Master in a secure prison, of which the Master is in complete control. The Doctor leaves believing otherwise, & while he is there, he is told of the recent disappearance of three navy ships. Naturally the Doctor's curiosity gets the best of him & he goes off to investigate. This is when he discovers the Silurians. As he did in the previous episode "Doctor Who and the Silurians" he attempts to broker a peace deal between the Silurians & humans... however the Master has other plans & the Silurians have already attacked, claiming that the Earth is rightfully theirs. Before the Doctor has a chance to intervene, the navy steps in...
You'll have to watch it for the rest of the story. Its a fun romp & an above average episode. I was certainly glued to my seat throughout the story. At times I thought the plot was a bit contrived, but overall, it was a well done production.
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